Golf Club Stand and Accessory

ABSTRACT

A golf club accessory stand is characterized by a unitary frame having retractable lower end and an extendable upper end. The retracted lower end of the leg is inserted into the ground and the extendable upper end has a receptacle to retrieve a golf ball from the water. The stand is lightweight and used by a golfer to support a number of golf clubs when the golfer is separated from his golf bag. The accessory stand includes a removable cup holder, cigarette holder and cigar holder.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the field of sport of golf, and, more particularly, to a combination golf club stand and golf ball retriever equipped with a retractable mounting probe.

During a round of golf, a golfer might use five or more golf clubs which are stored in a golf bag. Normally, the bag is placed on a golf cart which must be kept either on a cart path or in the rough of a golf hole. Unfortunately, a golfer does not always hit his golf shots in an area where the cart can be driven. Because carts can be shared with another golfer, it is a rare occurrence that both golfers hit their shots adjacent to each other. Accordingly, golfers frequently leave their bags and take a few (i.e. two or three) clubs with them and walk to their balls. Only after looking at the forthcoming shot does the golfer actually select the club to be used to play the shot. The remaining clubs are typically laid on the ground while the shot is made and then retrieved and returned to the golf bag. When the grips of the clubs are laid on the ground they become wet or soiled. As a result, with the passage of time, the grips and the clubs shafts deteriorate owing to the chemicals used on many golf courses. Players often forget their clubs in deep grasses or around the green, This all too common occurrence is particularly annoying to golfers having a matched set of clubs. Many times a pitching or sand wedge is left on the apron of a green after a golfer has completed putting out the hole. Finally, golf is a very popular sport among the elderly and the handicapped. For many of these golfers, it may be difficult to bend over and retrieve golf clubs which have been laid on the ground. The present invention was developed in order to be portable, lightweight golf club stand which fits with within the golfer's bag but can be removed and carried with a number of clubs to the location of a golf ballot support the non-selected clubs while the golfer strokes the ball.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a golf club stand with a portable frame formed from a rigid cylindrical rod having an upper and a lower end. The lower end has an inner hollow cavity for receiving a retractable portion with an anchor for entry into the ground. When the lower end is extended it has an anchor that is inserted into the ground. Additionally the extended lower end can be used for divot repair. Attached to the upper end is a receptacle for retrieving golf balls that have been hit into the water. The upper end adjusts in length to retrieve balls hit at various distances. The stand further comprises an ornamental attachment disposed below the upper end with various attaching elements to support a golf club, a cigarette, a cigar, or hold a cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the golf club stand according to the invention; it also shows the locking mechanism, ground pole, cylindrical pole, golf stand, cigar holder, receptacle, and the connector.

FIG. 2 is a front view with upper extension member extended; it also shows the upper locking mechanism, receptacle, and cup holder.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the upper extension member with cup holder and showing the example of a bottle of water.

FIG. 3 a is a cutaway view of the bottle in the cup holder.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of bottle within cup holder.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of lower extension member extended; showing the ground pole and the locking mechanism.

FIG. 5 a is a cutaway view of lower extension member retracted.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of ornamental member

FIG. 7 is a side view of the cup holder.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the receptacle.

FIG. 8 a is a side view of a golf ball going in to the receptacle.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of cylindrical rod.

FIG. 9 a is a cross-sectional view of cylindrical rod fully extended; showing the lower ground pole fully extended and the upper receptacle pole fully extended as well.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cylindrical rod in the ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the golf club stand (10) of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, ornamental member (30) is fixably coupled below the upper end (63) of the cylindrical rod (15). In this embodiment, ornamental member (30) is configured as golf ball with opposing apertures (70, 71) as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention, golf club accessory stand comprises a light weight cylindrical rod (15) defined by an upper end (63) and a lower end (62). As shown in FIGS. 5 and 5 a, the lower end (62) further includes an interior lower cavity (60) having a length to accommodate the lower extension member (45). Lower extension member (45) has an anchor lower edge for insertion into the ground as shown in FIG. 10. The top end of the lower extension member (45) is cooperatively engage with a locking mechanism (40) wherein the lower extension member (45) can be retracted as shown in FIG. 5 a or extended from the lower cavity (62) of the lower end of the cylindrical rod (15) as shown in FIG. 5 a. Lower extension member (45) is inserted into the ground wherein the cylindrical rod (15) is secured in a perpendicular relation to the ground as shown FIG. 10. While not in use the lower extension member (45) is retracted entirely into the lower end cavity (60). Locking mechanism (40) is cooperatively engaged in upper slot (68) when lower extension member (45) is retracted and locking mechanism (40) is cooperatively engaged in lower slot (69) when lower extension member (45) is extended.

In use as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 5 a, the lower extension member (45) is extended from the lower cavity (60) and then locked in place using the locking mechanism (40) as depicted in FIG. 5.

An additional use for the lower extension member (45) is a divot repair. Occasionally a golfer hits the ball which creates a dip in the green. When this occurs the golfer is responsible for repairing of the green. When this occurs, the user can used the anchor edge of the lower extension member (45) to uplift the dip the green. The tool has the advantage of allowing the golfer to fix the green without all the bending with the divot repair conventional tools.

Shown in FIG. 1, however ornamental member (30) configuration is not limited. In this embodiment, a plurality of connecting members (70, 71) can be disposed upon the opposing sides of the external surface of the ornamental member (30) as shown in FIG. 6. In the illustrated embodiment, each connecting member is an aperture situated therein for receiving a cigarette holder (25), a cigar holder (25), or a golf club stand holder (35) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In this embodiment the cigarette holder (25) is a small metal ring loop (79) formed on one side of a shaft (80). In this embodiment the cigar holder is larger version of the cigarette holder (25). In this embodiment the golf stand holder (35) is an L shape shaft. In use, the linear edge (80) of the cigarette holder (25), cigar holder or golf stand holder (35) is inserted into a connecting member (70, 71). To hold the golf club upright as shown in FIG. 10, the golf club (90) is laid upright against the golf club stand holder (35).

As shown in FIGS. 3, 3 a, and 4 in this embodiment the cup holder (55) comprises a container frame (53) with an attached lever (51) extending linearly upward to an attaching element (52). The container frame has a circumference of a conventional bottle of water. In this embodiment, attaching element (52) is disjoined into two separate sections with an opening there between which allows it to be couple above the ornamental member (30) with its underside abutting the ornamental member (30) as shown in FIG. 3 a.

As depicted in FIGS. 8 and 8 a, receptacle member (20) further include having adjoined opposing upper member (100) and lower member (101) with each opening having a circumference to accommodate a standard golf ball. In use, the receptacle member (20) is extended using the upper member of the cylindrical rod (15) to lift a ball that has been hit into water.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the upper end (53) of cylindrical rod (15) is adjustable in length. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking mechanism (52) is disposed upon the upper extension member (63) and is sliding engaged within the upper end (63) of cylindrical rod (15). In this embodiment locking mechanism (52) is a double 0-Rings placed upon the upper extension member (50) wherein the length can be extended and restricted. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf stand comprising: a cylindrical rod defined by an upper end and a lower end; the lower end having an internal cavity for receiving a lower extension member; a lower extension member cooperatively engaged with a locking mechanism to allow the extension and the retraction of the lower extension member therefrom; and an ornamental member being mounted below the upper end above the lower extension member and having a plurality of connection members incorporated thereon; and a upper extension member disposed below the upper end wherein when the lower extension member is extended and inserted into the ground the cylindrical rod extends linearly upward and perpendicular to the ground.
 2. The golf stand of claim 1 wherein a receptacle is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical rod having a circumference for receiving a golf ball therein.
 3. The golf stand of claim 2 wherein the receptacle further comprises: adjoined opposing upper cup member and lower cup member; the upper and lower cup member having an opening; the opening having a circumference configured to receive a golf ball therein; the opening extending through the upper cup member and the lower cup member wherein the receptacle is hollow therethorugh.
 4. The golf stand of claim 1 wherein the upper extension member further comprises a restriction member cooperatively coupled to the upper extension member wherein the upper extension member can be adjusted in length.
 5. The golf stand claim 1 further comprises a cigar holder further comprising a support member configured to receive a cigar therein and having an attaching member configured to be removably and cooperatively engaged within the connection member.
 6. The golf stand of claim 5 wherein the support member of the cigar holder further comprises: a shaft on one end; a loop member formed on the opposing end; the loop member having an opening to receive the cigar therein.
 7. The golf stand claim 1 further comprises a cigarette holder further comprising a support member configured to receive a cigarette therein and having an attaching member configured to be removably and cooperatively engaged within the connection member.
 8. The golf stand of claim 7 wherein the support member of the cigarette holder further comprises: a shaft on one end; a loop member formed on the opposing end; the loop member having an opening to receive the cigarette therein.
 9. The golf stand claim 1 further comprises a golf club holder further comprising a support member configured to receive a golf club in an upright position perpendicular to the ground therein and having an attaching member configured to be removably and cooperatively engaged within the connection member.
 10. The golf stand of claim 9 wherein the support member of the golf club holder further comprises: a shaft on one end; a L shape member formed on the opposing end; the L shape member protruding outward to receive a golf club in an upright position thereon.
 11. The golf stand claim 1 wherein each connection member is an aperture within the ornamental member.
 12. The golf stand claim 1 further comprises a bottle holder further comprising: a container frame with an upper opening with a circumference and a depth to suspend a conventional water in an upright position; An attaching member attached to the upper opening and configured to be removable attached to the upper extension member near the ornamental member.
 13. 